AN Oldham health centre has been rated as “inadequate” after its latest inspection.

The Mediscan Centre on Union Street Oldham had equipment “that posed a risk to patients’ safety” and was found to “not always control infection risk well”, according to a damning report by healthcare watchdog, the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The Oldham Mediscan Centre, operated by Mediscan Diagnostics Services Ltd, which delivers diagnostic and screening procedures including ultrasounds, was deemed as “inadequate” in the categories of safety, and leadership, but was not rated for effectiveness in its latest inspection on April 7, published last week.

The report said: “The service did not always control infection risk well. The infection control policy did not provide clear guidance for staff to follow in how to use equipment and control measures to protect patients. They did not always keep equipment and the premises visibly clean and monitoring processes were not robust.”

Inspectors also found equipment “that posed a risk to patients’ safety” and “limited evidence that staff had received appropriate training in the use of equipment”.

The report added: “There was not a robust process in place for the oversight of staff resuscitation training and the policies in place for staff to follow in respect of deteriorating patients were not fully reflective of the service provided.

“The service did not always make sure that staff were competent for their roles there was limited evidence of staff competencies and required training compliance was low.”

However, staff could “describe how to identify and quickly act upon patients at risk of deterioration or those with unexpected findings” and the service provided “care and treatment based on evidence-based practice” with staff given “regular opportunities to meet, discuss the service and learn”.

Following the inspection, Mediscan Diagnostics Services Ltd, has been prevented from “carrying out any invasive diagnostic procedures” under Section 31 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

The service must also “make improvements in relation to infection prevention and control, equipment maintenance, medicines management, staff competencies, leadership and governance and risk management systems”.

A request for a comment was made to the Mediscan Centre.